Corruption Junction: Wickedly busy week

Tough week to be an associate of a New Jersey public official. A high-level municipal aide in Perth Amboy, campaign worker for a state senator, campaign treasurer for an assemblyman, campaign treasurer for a municipal political party committee — all got tagged in what shaped up to be a very high-traffic week at Corruption Junction. Full details below … but grab a drink first, it’s an unhappily long recap.

Monday: A former department director in Perth Amboy city government pleaded guilty to helping former Mayor Joseph Vas, who has been indicted and remains a state assemblyman but isn’t seeking re-election, steal funds from the city. Jeffrey Gumbs Sr., 50, of Wilmington, Del., who was director of human services and superintendent of recreation under Vas, admitted in state court that he submitted fraudulent invoices on Vas’ behalf and did the same for himself. He’ll be sentenced June 26; the state will recommend probation.

Monday: A Newark man was indicted on charges that he changed votes on absentee ballots he collected in 2007 as a campaign worker for Teresa Ruiz’s successful state Senate campaign in the 29th District. Antonio Santana, 58, of Newark, allegedly collected three absentee ballots from one family in October ’07, opened the sealed ballots, and changed penciled-in votes for independent candidates Luis Quintana for Senate and Bessie Walker and Carlotta Hall for Assembly to instead back the Democrats on the ballot — Ruiz for Senate and Grace Spencer and Albert Coutinho for Assembly. Thank the ever-efficient Postal Service for accidentally exposing the scam by inadvertently returning the absentee ballots to the family.

Monday: The campaign treasurer for former Assemblyman Neil Cohen was indicted on charges that she stole money from his election fund. Rosemary McClave, 66, of Hillside, faces allegations of theft and tampering with public records. Between 2003 and 2006, McClave allegedly wrote 10 checks to American Express worth a combined $5,563 to pay personal items such as clothes from QVC and toys. On ELEC reports, she said those were reimbursements for campaign office supplies. She’s currently CFO for tiny Teterboro, a post that paid more than $106,000 in 2007.

Tuesday: The former chairman of the Ocean Township Sewerage Authority was sentenced to a year in federal prison for accepting $15,000 in corrupt payments from civil engineer Howard Schoor for steering contracts to Schoor’s firm. Stephen Kessler, 67, of Ocean Township, who pleaded guilty to his role in the scheme in July 2005, was also fined $10,000 and heads to jail by May 26.

Wednesday: A former treasurer for the Branchburg Republican Committee was sentenced by a federal judge to three years probation with six months of home confinement for using $10,000 in committee funds to pay personal debts. Russell Herzog, 46, of Branchburg, was also fined $10,000; he has already paid back the money to the political party.

Wednesday: Not even the little stuffed toys are safe. A Wildwood arcade operator — Pohlman Enterprises, Inc., which does business as Ed’s Funcade Arcade — agreed to pay a $3,000 civil penalty and serve a three-month probation after the state found its crane machines could be manipulated to reduce customers’ chances to win a prize.

Wednesday: A former state Department of Transportation employee was sentenced to three years in state prison for repeatedly stealing gas from a state fueling station in West Trenton for his personal use. For two years, Stephen Witkowski, 60, of Ewing, would regularly fill two or three portable five-gallon containers every two weeks when he was refueling his state-assigned car, then use the extra gas for his personal car or lawn mower. It added up: He paid the state $5,874 in restitution.

Thursday: A former state warehouse employee was sentenced to three years in state prison for stealing surplus equipment from the Treasury Department’s warehouse in Hamilton. James Mate, 48, of Yardville, pleaded guilty last June and forfeited his job; he and his co-defendants have to repay the state $24,292 for the equipment they stole to sell as scrap metal.

Friday: A former president of the Orange City Council, Vivian Gaunt, 71, pleaded guilty to official misconduct charges for fraudulently billing the Essex County city for undocumented travel expenses between 2001 and 2007. Apparently, she faked about $250 in meal purchases using 22 hand-written receipts. Under a plea deal, state prosecutors will recommend Gaunt be sentenced to probation. The case started with a tip from a city employee while the state investigated former Orange Mayor Mims Hackett Jr., who was also an assemblyman and has since pleaded guilty to faking over $5,000 in travel expenses.

Friday: State prosecutors announce that an Egg Harbor Township police officer pleaded guilty to charges that he engaged in a sexual act with a prostitute while on duty. Richard Cavanaugh, 45, of Egg Harbor Township, forfeited his job and pension; under the plea deal, the state will recommend he be sentenced to five years probation. He was in uniform and drove to a Black Horse Pike hotel in his marked police car for the December 2007 rendezvous.

Friday: The FBI arrested school bus driver William Murphy, 58, of Wanaque on charges of possession of child pornography. No information was announced about where Murphy works, but authorities cautioned the public about the risks of ‘peer-to-peer networks’ that directly link computers online for file-sharing purposes.

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About Michael Symons

Michael Symons has covered seven governors while working in Gannett's Statehouse Bureau -- a stint which actually only stretches back to 2000, but the door revolves quickly in New Jersey politics. He's co-author of the biography "Chris Christie: The Inside Story of His Rise to Power."

2 Responses to Corruption Junction: Wickedly busy week

Three years in state prison for stealing $5874 in gasoline, yet it seems the political crimes only warrant token renumeration in the form of probation. Somehow I am more offended that those entrusted with a political post are given what seems to be preferential treatment.

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About this Blog

A second look at news, and not-quite-news, on New Jersey, its politics and government, from the Statehouse Bureau of New Jersey Press Media.

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During the past month, Gov. Chris Christie has been to several states for fundraisers and he is now in Mexico on a trade mission. Do you approve of all these travels?

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About the Authors

Bob JordanBob Jordan has covered state, county and muncipal governments for the past 10 years. He has also covered the gaming industry and has been a sports team beat writer for NHL, NBA and major league baseball teams.E-mail Bob

John SchoonejongenJohn Schoonejongen is state editor for Gannett New Jersey newspapers. He has reported and edited at New Jersey newspapers from Salem County to Passaic County, writing about everything from state politics to lost pigs on the Delaware Memorial Bridge. Born in Camden County, he still speaks with a southern New Jersey accent, much to his wife's annoyance.E-mail John

Michael SymonsMichael Symons has covered seven governors while working in Gannett's Statehouse Bureau -- a stint which actually only stretches back to 2000, but the door revolves quickly in New Jersey politics. He's co-author of the biography "Chris Christie: The Inside Story of His Rise to Power."E-mail Michael